Google Reported Planning Touchscreen Laptops

Google has developed the first touchscreen laptops powered by its Chrome OS to be sold later this year, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing “people familiar with the matter,” as it tries to challenge Microsoft’s Windows system.

Oddly, the Chrome devices also would compete with those powered by Google's other operating system, Android, which has swept the smartphone and tablet market, making Google a force in mobile-device software.

Both Chrome and Android spring from Linux, an open-source operating system, and Google has said it is comfortable with competing systems that help boost key services like its Web-search engine and YouTube.

It's unclear when the Chrome touchscreen laptops will go on sale and what hardware manufacturer is working with Google to build them. A Google spokeswoman declined comment to the Journal.

Samsung has been among the manufacturers building Chrome laptops. Google sold nearly 100,000 $199 and $249 Chromebooks in the U.S. during the fourth quarter of last year.